US2970569A - Writing implements - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1961 H. F. HEYNAU WRITING IMPLEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1958 by @we f f fw/ef 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1958 nn.. g

@Mue J7 @ff/ew Affen-a7 United States Patent 2,970, 569 WRITING IMPLEMENTS Hans Felix Heynau, deceased, late of Los Angeles, Calif., by Erika Elsa Heynau, executrix, Pacific Palisades, ggg., assignor to Erika Elsa Heynau, Pacific Palisades,

Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 724,135

'3 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-9) The present invention relates to writing implements in general, and more particularly to a mechanical pencil o f the type in which a rolling element takes up coloring matter from a lead and transfers uniform imprints onto the writing surface. Such implements are desirable whenever lines ofuniform width must be drawn as compared with ordinary mechanical pencils in which the lead bar comes into direct contact with the writing surface and must be sh-arpened after relatively short periods of use if an impression of uniform width is to be maintained.

i According to an earlier proposal disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,768,609 granted to H. F. Heynauv on October 30, 1956, a marking roller which is in contact with `and transfers lead onto the paper surface is removably inserted into the free end of a lead-receiving tubular member so as to permit removal and interchange of the rolling element. By suitable selection of the thickness of marking rollers, lines of different widths may be drawn with the implement. However, the exchange of such relatively small rollers is rather difficult, and, in addition, the danger of losing or misplacing spare rollers is ever present.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved writing implement which avoids the above described drawbacks of the device disclosed in the aforementioned patent in that the rolling element is permanently built into the lead guide which latter is removably 'insertable into the implement housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the labove described character which is so shaped that the user will immediately nd the proper holding position therefor and thus avoids scratching or tearing of paper or other material on which imprints of uniform width are desired.

`An.additional object of the invention is to provide a `writing implement of the above described mechanical pencil-variety which is so constructed that its housing may be used for drawing lines of different widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a writing implement of the above described characteristics which is so constructed that the combined marking roller and lead guide may be interchanged or replaced with- V out requiring removal of other parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a very simple and reliable writing device which is cheap in manufacture and may be mass-produced from readily available materials.

' `A yet further object of the invention is to provide a Writing implement which `may be used with leads of different diameters.

' Arconcomitant object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the above described Vcharacter which Y may be used with leads of different colors.

The above objects are attained by the provision of an 4Aprises essentially an elongated housing or holder with a V'longitudinal bore, a lead receiving guide insertable into 'the bore from the writing end of the housing and having a marking roller permanently secured to that end which projects from the housing. The novel implement further comprises adjustable spring loaded feeding means for constantly urging the lead against the marking roller and' means for releasably holding and locking the lead guide with its marking roller in a fixed position in the housing.

By the provision of such means for releasablyholding thel lead guide, the said guide may be interchanged whenever necessary to be replaced by another guide whose marking roller is of different thickness.

Another feature of the improved writing device is in tha-t the locking means prevents rotation of the lead guide with respect to the housing, and the housing itself is so formed as to facilitate proper grip thereof by the users hand whereby the marking roller is so guided upon the writing surface as to prevent scratching or tearing of the paper. The housing is preferably of oblong rectangular cross-sectional contour and the roller is cut of sapphire or another wear-resistant material and has its peripheral surface knurled or otherwise roughened to insure satisfactory take-up of lead when the roller is rotated along the writing surface. Its major surfaces are preferably parallel with the major surfaces of the implement housing whereby the user, if desirous of conveniently holding the implement in this hand, turns an end surface of the housing in the direction of intended movement and thus properly locates the roller in such a way that the latter advances along a line substantially at right angles to its axis is rotation.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the locking means for the removably inserted lead guide comprises a resiliently mounted stud and the retaining means for the lead guide is a slotted collar into which a flattened end of the guide extends. The guide also passes through an aperture in the locking stud and is thus constantly urged against the retaining member which latter, due to the provision of slots therein, also prevents rotative movements of the lead giude with respect to the implement housing.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will4 be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of the improved writing implement taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 as seen in the direction of arrows;

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevational view of the implement;

Fig. 3 is an end view as seen from the writing end of the implement;

Fig. 4 is an exploded -view of the novel device in which the lead guide is removed from its: housing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a member serving as locating and retaining means for the lead guide;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged view illustrating the operating end of the lead guide;

Fig. 7 is an axial section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a right-hand end view of the lead guide shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 illustrates the operating end of a slightly moditied lead guide; and

Fig. 10 is an axial section taken on line 10--10 of Fig. 9. l

Referring first to Figs. l to 5, the writing implement therein shown comprises an elongated housing 1 which, save for the zones adjacent to its longitudinal ends, is of oblong rectangular cross-sectional contour and has a long 3 gitudinal substantially central bore 2. Portion 3 of this bore adjacent to the rear or non-working end of housing 1 is tapped to receive an externally threaded tensioning member 4 defining a knob 5 at one end and bearing with its otherY end against a coil spring 6 inserted in the nonthreadedv portion. of bore 2. The fore end of resilient member 6 bears against a piston 7 whose elongated rod 8 extends toward the forward or writing end of housing 1 intothe axial vbore provided in a tubular receptacle 9 to constantly urge pencil lead toward a marking roller 11 which is freely rotatable about a transverse shaft 12 mounted in the outwardly projecting end of member9.

Members 4 to 8 thus constitute a lead feeding deviceY which constantlyurges coloring material against the peripheral zone of; roller 11. The movement of piston 7 toward the writing end of housing 1 is limited by a stop 14, and the length of rod 8 is so chosen that it projects from the housing when the piston abuts against said stop.

Tubular receptacle or lead guide 9 is removably inserted into bore 2 at the writing end of the implement and projects slightly therefrom whereby the roller 11 is somewhat spaced from the frontend of housing 1. As best shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 12 about which marking roler 11 rotates is parallel with the end surfaces of the housing whereby the major surfaces of the roller and of member 1 are also parallel. Lead `10 is freely slidable in the axial bore of guide 9 and is thus permanently urged against the marking roller 11 which thereupon transfers the lead onto the paper surface along which the writing implement is led. Roller 11 is preferably knurled and of uniform thickness so as to form a trace of uniform width whenever the implement is put to use. Lead 10 thus never contacts the paper surface and, aside from depositing coloring matter on the marking roller 1v1, has no direct bearing on the imprint. Roller 11 is made. of suitable metal or, better still, of sapphire. ,4 4As before stated, the cross-sectional contour of housing 1 is an oblong rectangle and the user is thus impelled to hold the implement in such a way that the marking member 11 rolls freely, substantially at right angles to the axis of pin 12, and without scratching, in the direction of movement of the users hand when the implement is used with or without a ruler. Knurling of the marking rollers periphery and adjustments in pressure of spring 6 by rotating the knob 5 of tensioning member 4 insure a satisfactory deposition of coloring matter onto,

and transfer thereof from, the roller 11 to a writing surface. When thc lead llt) is consumed, guide member 9 iswithdrawn from the housing and reloaded with a new lead.

That end of lead guide 9 which extends into the bore 2 is attened, as at 13, and by entering into diametral slots 15 provided in sleeve 14a of the member 14 \(see Figs. 1 and 5) insures that the major surfaces of roller 11 remain parallel with the major surfaces of housing 1. Member 14 consists of a cylindrical sleeve 14a received in a transverse bore 1a in housing 1 and of an enlarged fiange which latter limits the extent to which the sleeve projects into the body 1 of the writing implement. AS shown in Fig. 4, the flattened end 13 of guide 9 defines anelongated recess 16 and a projecting nose 17 which latter enters the sleeve 14a when the end 13 is slid into the cutouts 15. The inclined surface 17a of nose 17 facilitates passage of the latter beyond the end wall Sa in the adjacent one of slots 15. Nose 17 and the sleeve 14a are held in locked position by a stud 1S whose cylindrical end is inserted into a transverse bore 1b provided in the housing 1. Stud 18 is formed with a transverse bore 19 for the passage of guide 9 therethrough. Externally of housing 1, lstud 18 terminates in an enlarged head 18a which bears against an annular washer 20 of rubber-like material. Resilient washer 20 tends to displace the stud in a direction away from the housing 1 and thus maintains nose 17 in engagement with the Sleeve ofniember 14. 'Asshownin Fig; 1,2the diameter asm-ues of bore 2 is greater than the outer diameter of lead guide 9 which latter has suicient play to be displaceable bystud 18 when it passes through bore 19 in the latter. When a lead 10 is to be replaced in guide member 9, head 18a is depressed against the resilient washer 20 to disengage nose 17 from the sleeve 14a, whereupon the rod 8, urged by coil spring 6, automatically ejects the assembly of members 9, 11 and 12 from the housing. As above stated, the inclined surface 17a at the advanc-v ing end of projection 17 facilitates insertion of a reloaded guide against the action of resilient element 20.

The slot into which the roller 11 at the free end of guide 9'extends is slightly larger than the portion of member 11 received therein to permit discharge of the material of lead l0 not taken up bythe marking roller.`

erses the latter and is extended toward the shaft 12, as at i 23, to be limited by a pair of inclined surfaces along which the remnants 21 of the lead 10 slide in directions away from the major surfaces of member 11.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and l0, guide member 9' defines an inclined bore 24 into which a segment of roller 11 extends. Remnants 21 of lead 10 pass throughthe downwardly inclined bore 24 and are discharged at both sides of roller 11. j

Housing l may be'made of a metal, wood, an artificial resin, a plastic, or any other suitable material.`

y If the user desires to draw lines of dierent thicknesses', guides 9 or 9 with built-in roller. 11 is renie-ced by 2nother guide whise roller is of a different thickness. The Writing implement may be furnished with a set of lead guides with built-in rollers of different thicknesses and, to facilitate selection of a proper guide, the latter may be manufactured in different colors for convenient recog nition and selection by the user.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of writing implements differing from the types described above. A

While the invention has been illustrated as described and embodied in a speciic mechanical pencil, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made with= out departing in any w'ay from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the manner of maintaining Athe guide in proper position in the housing of the novel iniplement may be changed at will; the housing need not necessarily be of exact rectangular cross-Sectional v'contour; and members 14, 18 may be replaced by a single element passing through the attened end 13 of the guide, such single'element then simultaneously performing the functions of releasably locking and maintaining the guide member in proper position. Moreover, the lead guide may be made of non-circular contour and the forward end of the bore in the housing is then shapedaccordingly whereby to facilitate proper locating of the marking roller with respect to the housing. I What is claimed as new and desired to be Secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A writing implement comprising, in combination', an elongated housing of oblong substantially rectangular cross-sectional contour having a forward end, a rear end, a through bore between said ends and a pair of substantially parallel major surfaces; a cylindrical lead guide having a attened end in said bore, a second Vend projecting from the forward end of said housing, and an axial aperture; a transverse shaft in the second end of said guide; a marking roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, said roller having a peripheral zoneof uniform` width and-a pair 'of substantially parallel major surfaces;

a lead sldahly received in the aperture of said guide and having an end in contact with the peripheral zone of said roller; lead-feeding means in said bore for resiliently urging the lead into contact with the periphery of said roller; a member rigidly held in said housing, said member having a slotted portion extending into said bore and receiving the flattened end of said guide for holding the latter against axial and angular displacements with respect to said bore in such a Way that the major surfaces of said roller are parallel with the major surfaces of said housing; and means for releasahly holding the flattened end of said guide in engagement with said member.

2. A Writing implement comprising. in combination, an elongated housing having a forward end and a bore extending inwardly from said forward end; a cylindrical lead guide of an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said bore, said guide having an axial aperture, a forward end projecting from the forward end of said housing, and a attened end in said bore, said last named end defining a laterally projecting nose; a transverse shaft in said guide adjacent to the forward end thereof; a marking roller rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a peripheral zone of uniform width; a lead slidahly received in the aperture of said guide; lead feeding means in said bore adjacent to the flattened end of said guide for constantly urging said lead into Contact with the peripheral zone of said roller; a cylindrical sleeve in said housing extending transversely into said bore and delining a pair of diametrically opposed slots therein for receiving the flattened end of said guide; and means for releasably holding the nose of said guide in said sleeve.

3. A writing implement comprising, in combination, an elongated housing having a forward end and a bore extending inwardly from said forward end; a cylindrical lead guide of an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said bore, said guide having an axial aperture, a forward end projecting from the forward end of said housing, and a attened end in said bore, said last named end dening a laterally projecting nose; a transverse shaft in said guide adjacent to the forward end thereof; a marking roller rotatably mounted on said shaft; a lead slidably received in the aperture of said guide; resilient lead feed ing means in said bore for constantly urging said lead into contact with the peripheral zone of said roller; a cylindrical sleeve in said housing extending transversely into said bore and defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots therein for receiving the attened end of said guide; and means for releasably holding the nose of said guide in said sleeve, said last mentioned means comprising a stud disposed between the forward end of said housing and said sleeve and received in said housing for movements transversely to the axis of said bore, the portion of said stud in said bore having an opening for the passage of said guide therethrough and the stud further comprising an enlarged head externally of and spaced from said housing, and an elastic element disposed between said head and said housing for constantly urging said stud in such direction that the nose at the flattened end of said guide is moved toward and into engagement with said sleeve, whereby upon pressure on said head and resulting disengagement of said nose from said sleeve, said lead feeding means will eject said lead guide from said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,964 Herman Oct. 23, 1906 1,940,855 Friedman Dec. 26, 1933 2,016,545 Dickerson Oct. 8, 1935 2,338,068 Harris et al. Dec. 28, 1943 2,768,609 Heynau Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,959 Great Britain May 10, 1949

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